Sherman LeRoy "Roy" Ruff

On August 25, 2025, Jesus called his faithful son Sherman LeRoy “Roy” Ruff (86) home.

Roy was born on June 17, 1939 in Pocatello, Idaho, to Esther Funk Ruff and Albert Ruff. He was raised in the American Falls / Aberdeen area where his father farmed. When Roy was 6-years-old his mother Esther was the first open-heart surgery patient in Utah. Sadly, the surgery was unsuccessful, leaving Roy and Albert on their own. Roy spent the following years being raised by both Albert and other family members. Albert eventually married Erna Stuber, giving Roy a stepmom and a stepsister Frieda. Together, Albert and Erna had Eugene and Randy, blessing Roy with two more siblings.

Roy attended American Falls High School his freshman and sophomore years, where he was active in the band. Just before starting his junior year, American Falls implemented a new tuition fee that was being charged to out-of-district students, which his family was unable to afford. So, Roy transferred to Aberdeen for his junior and senior years, and graduated from Aberdeen High School in 1957. Around this time, when Roy was 18, his father Albert died.

Following graduation Roy left Idaho for California, where he began attending school to become an electrician. Partway through his schooling, his brother-in-law Jim Paul (married to his stepsister Frieda), called and asked him to come home and farm with him, as Jim had taken over Albert’s farming operation. Roy moved home and began farming with Jim.

During this time Roy was introduced to Betty, who was a senior at Aberdeen High School. She graduated and left to attend college in Southern California. Roy decided he couldn’t spend his life without her, so he showed up in California asking her to come home and be his wife.

Roy and Betty were married on March 31, 1961, just before planting season. Together they started their new life in a tiny, single-wide, pink and white trailer out on the original farm. They brought home their first son, Douglas, in 1962 to the trailer, where they used a dresser drawer as his crib.

Eventually, through God’s divine generosity and timing, Roy and Betty were able to purchase their own home and 80-acres on Homestead Road in Aberdeen. In 1964 they welcomed their daughter Pamela and in 1969 they welcomed their son Russell.

In the early years, Roy would farm from spring through harvest. During the winter months he would deliver heating oil for Betty’s parents, who owned the local Phillips 66 station in Aberdeen. It was in those years where Roy left a lasting impression on Betty’s younger brothers by patiently mentoring them in farming and life.

Back then, winters brought tremendous amounts of snow, to the point that those in the country could often only get around by using snowmobiles. So, in the late 1960’s, seeing a need and wanting to provide work for his employees during the winter months, Roy began selling Artic Cat snowmobiles, while his brother-in-law Jim began selling the Polaris brand.

Roy and Jim farmed together until the early 1990’s, when they decided to separate the farm as they each had sons of their own that also wanted to begin farming. Despite, establishing separate farms, they continued to help each other during planting and harvest, and by sharing equipment. It was then that Ruff Times Farm began, and along with it, Roy’s famous motto “Smile,” which could be found on his license plate and is still used on farm hats today. “Smiling” is something Roy always had in abundance, no matter what he was facing.

Later in life Roy began slowly taking more and more time away from the farm so he could travel with Betty. They traveled the world together, including going on several trips with The Wheelchair Foundation where they were able to personally deliver wheelchairs to those who had never left their homes, due to a lack of mobility. They bought a motorcoach, with which they traveled coast to coast, including a stop at the Kentucky Derby. They eventually bought a park model in Mesa, Arizona, where they began spending their winters playing cards, and where Roy refined his woodworking skills, making many treasured possessions, including crosses, for his family.

During retirement, Roy bought a Harley and Betty surprised everyone by riding it with him. Roy loved puttering and tinkering, and he could always be found fixing things. It became the family joke that if Roy was coming to stay with you, you’d better have a list of things for him to fix or he would find them himself!

Roy loved cars, especially his three old Model T’s. He loved driving them in the town parades filled with his grandkids, and giving rides in them to those at the local assisted living home along with the help of his grandson. He also loved his corvettes, even picking one up at the factory.

Roy was active in St. John’s Lutheran Church, where he was a member of the AF Sharps and headed up their Secret Santa ministry every December with the help of his children and grandchildren.

Roy’s grandkids will always remember what an amazing grandpa he was, including fun memories of: RVing, crabbing & salmon fishing at the Oregon Coast, playing card games & doing puzzles, traveling to Kauai, going to car shows, discussions about the history of Aberdeen/AF and farming, riding in the model T’s to get ice cream, and patiently teaching them all how to fix things around the house and yard. You could always rely on Grandpa Roy to fix anything, no matter what it was, even how to stop the seatbelt alarm with a paperclip! Most importantly, Roy impressed upon all his grandchildren and great-grandchildren the importance of memorizing God’s word and tucking it away in their hearts.

In 2019 Betty was called home to heaven. Thankfully, that was not the end for Roy. They had a dear family friend, Virginia Gohl, who had also lost her husband Clarence. Roy and Virginia found solace and support in each other’s company and soon fell in love. Their union was blessed by the Lutheran Church on May 30, 2021. Roy and Virginia traveled to Maui and continued going to Mesa, Arizona where they enjoyed time with their friends and Virginia’s sisters. They spent much time with both of their families, enjoying each other’s company and their time together. Eventually they moved to Touchmark in Meridian, Idaho, where Virginia selflessly and patiently cared for Roy while Parkinson’s slowly took over. She was and is such a blessing to Roy and the entire family.

Roy faithfully stewarded all that God had entrusted to him. Roy’s very life, and all he did and all those he served, was a beautiful act of worship to God. We are thankful God gave him to us, to call our own. As Matthew 25:23 so beautifully says about the faithful servant, “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’”

Roy is preceded in death by his parents Esther, Albert, and Erna; his wife Betty; and his siblings Frieda (Jim) Paul and Eugene Ruff. He is survived by his wife Virgina Gohl; his sibling Randy (Dennis) Jablonski; his children Douglas (Jennifer) Ruff, Pamela (Allen) Prather, Russell (Kimberly) Ruff; Robert (DeAnn) Gohl, Margaret (Bruce) Gianotti, Chris (Linda) Gohl; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

A visitation will be from 6:00-7:30 p.m. on Thursday August 28 at St. John's Lutheran Church in American Falls. A second visitation will be on Friday August 29 from 9:00-10:15 a.m. The funeral will follow beginning at 10:30 a.m. Interment will be at the Falls View Cemetery. Family and friends are invited to visit DavisRoseMortuary.com to order flowers, or to share condolences, memories, and photos.